Saturday Studio Art Classes for High School Students
Thank you for your interest in our Saturday Studio Art Classes for High School Students! While the program won’t be running this spring, we’re excited to see you in Fall 2025. Please check back for updates and details on upcoming Saturday Studio Art Classes.
In the meantime, explore our other Pre-College programs. And did you know that our Continuing Education classes are open to students 15+? Browse Saturday and weekend classes or see recommendations below. Questions? Use the contact form below to send us an email!
Saturday Studio Art Classes are a valuable opportunity for teens to develop the foundational skills that will support them in all their artistic endeavors. Small class sizes taught by our expert artists and educators ensure that students of all skill levels and experience are welcomed and engaged. Open to high school students entering or currently enrolled in grades 9–12.
Teens can choose to take 10-week courses for 1.0 undergraduate credit at no additional cost.
To learn about college credits and other policies go to Pre-College Information, Scholarship, and Policy.
SPRING 2025 - CE Adult Classes Only
While Saturday High School Classes are on pause, check out these Continuing Education (CE) offerings open to high school students ages 15 and up, with undergraduate credit and non-credit options available! CE courses feature guided studio instruction within a welcoming environment for a wide range of ages and skill levels. Many CE faculty are also past/current instructors within PAFA’s Pre-College programs. Please note that figure-based courses include work from nude models, unless specified otherwise.
Students in grades 9 – 12 can register for undergraduate credit (where available) with no additional fee by calling 215-972-2029 to register! Email continuinged@pafa.edu for questions.
Browse Saturday and Weekend classes, or check out these recommendations below with experienced former Pre-College instructors:
Introduction to Drawing: Colored Pencil with Michelle Oosterbaan
Saturdays, 10 weeks, February 8 – April 12, 1 – 4 p.m.
Learn the fundamentals of drawing with the vibrancy of colored pencil! Work from still life objects, window views, and clothed models to explore observational drawing techniques and color theory essentials. Non-credit or 1.0 undergraduate credit. (Note: Uses clothed models only.)
Figure Painting: Alla Prima and the Limited Palette with David Wilson
Saturdays, 6 weeks, January 25 – March 1, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Work from the nude model to investigate color mixing, proportion, and composition focusing on alla prima oil painting techniques and a limited-color palette – excellent as an introduction to figure painting. Non-credit or may be combined with The Extended Pose at time of registration for a 12-week 1.0 credit class. (Note: Uses nude models.)
Figure Painting: The Extended Pose with David Wilson
Saturdays, 6 weeks, March 15 – April 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Paint from a life model in a multi-week-pose format to develop and refine your figure painting compositions. Non-credit or may be combined with Alla Prima and the Limited Palette at time of registration for a 12-week 1.0 credit class. (Note: Uses nude models.)
Past Courses
The Essentials of Drawing
This class is for high-school students of all abilities and experience levels from novices to veterans. Students will learn the fundamental principles of drawing and strengthen their observational skills. They will be introduced to a variety of materials and techniques while drawing from still-life, live-figure models, and historic casts. Through these genres, students will deepen their understanding of proportions, perspective, light & shadow, line, tone, and composition. This class will be an opportunity to strengthen essential skills and create outstanding portfolio pieces.
Oil Painting: Portfolio Preparation
Come explore the vibrant possibilities of oil painting through PAFA’s time honored methods. In this course learn materials and techniques including painting supports, brushes, historical and contemporary oil mediums, and their preparations. Discussions and demonstrations will include topics such as paint chemistry, color mixing of prismatic hues and earth tone colors as well as the additive and subtractive color systems. Painting from a variety of subjects including the still life, the cityscape, and nude models will allow for a development and understanding of the two-dimensional visual language.
Fundamentals of Illustration
Learn how to successfully imagine, develop, and execute an illustration! This course will help students gain effective illustration drawing techniques while encouraging their unique artistic visions. Students will learn the fundamental elements of illustration and design, including different applications of composition, line, character design, color, and storytelling.
Contact Us
PAFA offers programs for artists and art lovers of all ages and skill levels who want to learn about and make art.